There are a number of concerns that can cause shoulder pain. The most common of these is tendinitis in the rotator cuff. Tendinitis is swelling of the tendons. Another cause of shoulder pain is impairment syndrome, where the rotor cuff gets caught in the shoulder being pinched as the arm moves.

Sometimes the cause of shoulder pain is due to an injury in another part of your body, normally the neck or biceps. This is commonly called “referred pain”. This type of pain doesn’t generally get worse when you move the shoulder.

There are a number of other causes of shoulder pain, such as; arthritis, torn rotator cuff, torn cartilage, bone spurs, pinched nerves, dislocated shoulder, repetitive use, or heart attack. There are also a number of other factors that can be the cause.

If you are experiencing intense pain from an injury, it is recommended that you seek medical attention. If the pain isn’t severe, it may be a good idea to rest and see if the pain goes away. If the problem persists, then it is a good idea to see a doctor. The doctor will perform an examination to evaluate what the cause of the problem is and determine appropriate treatment options for you.
 
The doctor will go through your medical history as part of the process of determining what the problem may be. The doctor will ask how and when the pain started. They will ask to find out if this has happened before, or is a recurring issue. Most shoulder problems are made worse by specific activities, a medical history will be a valuable tool in determining the root cause.
 
A physical examination will be a part of the determination process. The doctor will check for physical abnormalities, deformity to the muscle, swelling, weakness, and check for tenderness in the area. They will also check the range of motion and strength in the shoulder.
 
The doctor may also want to run some tests to identify what the cause of the problem may be. Most of these tests are imaging-type tests, like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. If these don’t give a good indication of the cause of the problem, the doctor may want to check for nerve function, an arthrogram, or an arthroscopy to try and find any damage that may be hidden from other tests.

You should be concerned about your shoulder pain if you can’t move your arm over your head or perform normal movements. If your shoulder feels like it is not in its socket, it is probably a serious issue. If you look in the mirror and your shoulder doesn’t look right, it may be time to be concerned. If your hand or arm is numb or weak after sustaining an injury, you should be concerned. Another, and often overlooked issue is if you have pain in your shoulder that interferes with sleep.

As with many things in life, if it is left untreated it is very likely to get worse. If the pain hasn’t gone away in a short time after an injury has taken place, there is a good chance that this may be something more serious. If the condition is caused by bursitis or forms of tendonitis, it can cause deterioration of the rotator cuff if left untreated. Failure to take care of shoulder problems can lead to long-term problems in the future.
 
The kind and compassionate medical professionals at Max Center for Health are here to help get you out of pain! Our clinic is located at 240 N Liberty St Suite R Powell OH 43065. For more information, please call us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Powell OH, Dublin OH, Worthington OH, Westerville OH, Hilliard OH, and Delaware OH.